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Committee backs resolution urging targeted federal land transfers for moderate‑income housing

House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Standing Committee · February 23, 2026

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Summary

HCR 14 asks the federal government to consider returning small tracts of federal land inside or adjacent to municipalities to enable moderate‑income housing; the committee adopted an amendment and passed the resolution after mixed public comment.

Representative Ward presented HCR 14, a concurrent resolution asking the federal government to consider returning certain federally managed lands that are inside or immediately adjacent to municipalities and have infrastructure nearby so those parcels can be used for moderate‑income housing. Ward said the resolution is deliberately narrow, aiming to provide an additional tool to the federal delegation when negotiating land transfers.

Public comment was divided. Critics including Brett Stewart (Utah OHV Advocates) and Cal Weston warned that turning public land to private ownership or sale risks a slippery slope and urged preference for trades rather than permanent disposals. County commissioners and several local officials, including Duchesne and Sevier County representatives, supported the resolution as a pragmatic way to increase land available for housing in places where infrastructure is already present.

The committee adopted Amendment 1 to clarify text and then voted to recommend HCR 14 favorably to the full House by voice vote.